RICHARDSON, Texas — With less than three weeks away from the 2017 season opener, Midwestern State was picked ninth in the Lone Star Conference Preseason Poll voted on by the league's 11 head coaches, sports information directors and some media representatives.

Angelo State, the reigning LSC champion and 2017 NCAA II Elite Eight participant, was tabbed as the conference's preseason favorite with 340 points and 21 of the 32 first-place votes. Tarleton State and Texas A&M-Kingsville were second and third.

Midwestern State finished ahead of only UT Permian Basin and Cameron in the poll.

Head coach Natalie Burton leads the Mustangs into her third season at the helm of the MSU program. The Mustangs will sport a veteran squad with five seniors and nine upperclassmen as MSU returns four starters from a season ago.

Highlighting the Mustangs returners this season are seniors Aerielle Edwards and Kristan Aduddell, who both captured all-LSC accolades in 2016.

The newcomers include sophomore middle blocker/right side hitter Sarah Eakin of Wichita Falls. Eakin had began her career at Florida Atlantic, one of three sisters to play Division I volleyball.

Among the freshmen class is Addy Cook of Bowie.

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Sarah Eakin from Wichita Falls High School recently joined Midwestern State University's volleyball team. She previously played at Florida Atlantic. Eakin and MSU volleyball players and coaches will leave for Buenos Aires, Argentina, Aug. 12 for a historic team-building trip.(Photo: Patrick Johnston/Times Record News)

The Mustangs are currently in the midst of a 12-day trip to Buenos Aires, Argentina, becoming the first MSU athletic team in school history to embark on an overseas trip. They open Friday, Sept. 1 with the two-day Tarleton State Invitational in Stephenville, Texas.

Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: Hailey Roberts, Tarleton StatePreseason Defensive Player of the Year: Andrea Aguilar, Eastern New MexicoPreseason Setter of the Year: Meghan Parker, Angelo State